# window

/ˈwɪndoʊ/ (US) · /wˈɪndəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/window
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. opening in a wall

noun · CEFR A1

an opening in a building or car, usually with glass, that lets in light and air.

For teachers: an opening in a wall or vehicle, typically containing glass panes within a frame, designed to admit light and air.

- She opened the window to let some fresh air into the room.
- The architect designed floor-to-ceiling windows to maximise the natural light and provide an unobstructed view of the valley.

### 2. computing

noun · CEFR A2

a rectangular area on a computer screen that shows a specific program or page.

For teachers: a separate viewing area on a computer monitor, typically rectangular, that displays a specific application or document.

- You can drag the browser window to the other side of the screen.
- The developer kept multiple terminal windows open simultaneously to monitor the server logs while deploying the new code.

### 3. period of opportunity

noun · CEFR B2

a short amount of time when it is possible to do something.

For teachers: a limited period of time during which an opportunity exists or an action can be performed.

- We have a small window of time to finish the project before the deadline.
- The launch was delayed because the weather conditions did not align with the narrow three-hour window required for a safe ascent.

### 4. medical/testing

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the time between getting an infection and when a test can find it.

For teachers: the interval between the initial infection by a pathogen and the point at which it becomes detectable by diagnostic tests.

- The doctor explained that the virus might not show up during the window period.
- Modern screening techniques have significantly reduced the window period for detecting blood-borne pathogens after exposure.

### 5. geology

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a hole in a layer of rock that lets you see the older rock underneath.

For teachers: an opening in a tectonic unit, such as a thrust sheet, that exposes the underlying rocks.

- The hikers looked at the geological window where the older granite was visible.
- The erosion of the overlying limestone created a tectonic window, revealing the metamorphic basement rock beneath the thrust sheet.

### 6. to provide with windows

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

to put windows into a building or a room.

For teachers: to furnish or fit a structure with windows. Transitive — takes a direct object.

- The new extension was windowed with large glass panels.
- The cathedral's clerestory is heavily windowed to allow light to penetrate the deep recesses of the nave.

## Examples

- I open the window for some fresh air.
- From her office window, she watched the rain fall on the busy street below.
- From the airplane window, the sprawling city below resembled a vast, intricate circuit board, its lights flickering on as dusk settled over the landscape.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.